“It is not easy to reinvent menswear tradition. There are different ways of being classic,” Armani told reporters after his show, where Taiwan-born violinist Ray Chen performed.

Ermenegildo Zegna used sophisticated fabrics such as carded silk and cropped deerskin for a sporty collection of double-breasted suits and turtleneck knitwear, aimed at wealthy travelers wanting to dress comfortably.

Armani and Gucci also mixed classic looks and colors as Italian designers looked to persuade shoppers to make room in their wardrobes for garments tailored to their personality.

Orders of Italian menswear for the 2013 spring/summer season have fallen 8 percent despite demand from China, Italy’s textile and fashion body Sistema Moda Italia (SMI) said in a report.

Prada offered young globetrotters straight sweaters and fitting trousers in a variety of blue, red and yellow.

“One thing is nostalgia and another is knowledge of the past,” Miuccia Prada told reporters after her show, whose display space was turned into an urban loft adorned with Knoll furniture.

CHINA BOOST

Informal lines inspired Fendi, which created oversized fur coats and rubber-soled shoes while British luxury brand Burberry presented its traditional raincoats in a new range of materials and colors.

Burberry on Tuesday reported forecast-beating revenue growth in the three months to end-December, helped by strong Chinese demand in the run-up to Christmas.